Superchargers condemn Phoenix to third straight defeat

Phoebe Litchfield's aggressive 59* helped northern Superchargers to the top of the points table with a commanding eight-wicket win over hapless Birmingham Phoenix, who slipped to their third successive defeat, at Headingley on Friday. A collective bowling effort restricted the visitors to 116/6 before the Australian led a successful chase, with her fluent strokeplay, in just 74 balls.

Georgia Voll gave Phoenix a brisk start with four boundaries in her nine-ball cameo up top for 17 runs, but became Linsey smith's first victim in the spinner's first set. Marie Kelly attempted to resurrect the innings with her 14-ball 20 before a mini collapse firmly put the Phoenix on the backfoot.

Emma Lamb was undone after a sedate start by Lucy Higham, Smith struck soon after to remove a set Kelly, skipper Ellyse Perry was run out after getting a start, and Amy Jones and Ailsa Lister contributed one each - the collapse of 5 for 16 sucking all the momentum. Sterre Kalis (24 not out off 30) and Em Arlott (32* off 25) put on a 57-run unbroken partnership for the seventh wicket to repair some of the damage, but could only take their side to a modest 116 in the end.

Davina Perrin made a brisk start in the chase, striking a four and a six in her run-a-ball 14 before she was dismissed by Arlott. Coming in at one-down, Litchfield then took charge. She hit a total of 11 boundaries in her 28-ball stay, keeping the Superchargers well ahead of the asking rate.

The southpaw put on a 32-run stand with Alice Davidson-Richards, and then an unbroken 58-run partnership with compatriot Annabel Sutherland (20* off 13) to overhaul the target with 26 balls to spare. Hannah Baker (10-0-25-0) and Lamb (5-0-14-0) copped severe punishment as Litchfield took the attack to the Phoenix bowlers, never allowing them a comeback window.

Brief scores: Birmingham Phoenix 116/6 in 100 balls (Em Arlott 32*, Sterre Kalis 24*; Linsey Smith 2-18, Lucy Higham 2-21) lost to Northern Superchargers 117/2 in 74 balls (Phoebe Litchfield 59*; Em Arlott 1-19) by 8 wickets